Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Otterbein baseball team tuned up for what could be a very important final weekend of the regular season with a non-conference doubleheader at Washington and Jefferson, splitting with the defending Presidents Athletic Conference champ after a pair of seven-inning showdowns.

The Cardinals overcame a rough start in the opener to win 17-8, before coming up on the low side of a narrow 9-8 decision in the rematch. Otterbein now stands with a 25-12 overall record as a result.

GAME ONE RECAP:

• The Cardinals trailed by a touchdown after two innings as the Red and Black plated six in the first, and then another shortly thereafter.
   
• Otterbein's potent bats finally kicked in during a blitzing top of the fourth that saw eight runs scoot across. Jamie Perebzak launched a three-run homer down the left-field line and 2-RBI knocks from Ryan Grant and Noah Sprowls followed as the lineup turned over.
   
• Hard-throwing Noah Gruver entered from the bullpen with Otterbein leading 8-7 and tossed two scoreless innings, allowing his offense to extend the lead with multiple runs in each of the net three frames…
   
• Brayden Carter ripped an extra-base hit in the fifth that brought a pair across and Otterbein manufactured plenty of insurance runs heading home.
   
• Zach Franz hit 3 for 5 for a Cardinal lineup that also drew eight walks. Junior Haruki Tada earned his first college win on the mound as the pitcher of record into the fourth, allowing just one run after being asked to enter early in the game.

 
GAME TWO RECAP:

• W&J played from ahead with an early 2-0 lead, taken in its first at-bat following a timely double to right-center.
   
• Otterbein needed one time through the lineup before scoring, but finally did just that in the fourth as Perebzak launched another round-tripper with a two-run shot to left. That brought around Brayden Quincel to knot the score.
   
• Unfortunately, the Presidents regained the lead with a 2-RBI single and double steal in the bottom of the inning… pushing the gap back to 5-2.
   
• The Cards trailed 9-3 later on but never quit, making things very interesting down the stretch by roaring back with five runs in the sixth. A balk started the scoring sequence before Carter and Sprowls smoked 2-RBI hits that brought Otterbein to within 9-8…
   
• Quincel then had an infield single, followed by both he (go-ahead run) and Sprowls (tying run) advancing into scoring position via a wild pitch. Perebzak would soon get a piece but the fly ball was corralled in left.
   
• The Cards went down 1-2-3 in the seventh and were forced to settle with a split.
   
• Adam Folk went 2 for 2 with a walk in the game while Nick Plucinski tossed a scoreless inning of relief (late) to keep his team within arm's length.

 
THE WEEKEND:

• Otterbein will host Wilmington for the last conference doubleheader of the season on Saturday, but will be keeping an eye on the John Carroll vs. Baldwin Wallace games over Friday afternoon. The Cards will need JCU to lose both in order to stay alive in the race for the final OAC Tournament spot.
   
• The Cardinals will then host Marietta (charted as a non-conference game) on Sunday to complete the 40-game regular season.